ST. JOSEPH CO. — Each year, approximately 5,000 people under the age of 21 die as a result of underage drinking, according to the latest statistics from the National Institutes of Health.

Those figures include about 1,900 deaths from motor vehicle crashes, 1,600 as a result of homicides, 300 from suicide, and hundreds from other injuries like falls, burns and drownings.

Nearly every year, the numbers continue to rise.

Now, St. Joseph County Police are trying a new "old" approach to try and reverse the trend. It's called "SUDS," Stop Underage Drinking and Sales, and it's a successful nationally recognized program that was cut in St. Joseph County about 15 years ago because of a lack of funding.

This year, it's back, thanks to a $6,000 grant from the Drug Free Community Council. Monday night, officers used it to send a very clear message.

On St. Patrick's Day in the land of the Fighting Irish, you don't have to go far to find the signs: green beer and big crowds, all on a mission to celebrate.

While the beer was flowing Monday, seven St. Joseph County deputies and 11 Indiana State Excise Police officers were on a mission of their own.

"These tips came through the Indiana State Excise Police, on some possible underage drinking parties," St. Joseph County Police Sergeant Bill Redman explained. "These particular tips came in as parties taking place today on the holiday."

Because of the high amount of tips, the SUDS task force decided to act. "Undercover" excise officers were planted inside the parties to see if people were drinking underage. If they were, the undercover officers would signal the SUDS team standing by in a nearby parking lot by calling or sending a text message.

With most local universities on spring break this week, including Notre Dame, all six parties the officers were tipped off about came up clean.

But the bust wasn't over yet.

The undercover officers decided to head out to some local bars instead.

"Once we verify there may be underage drinking taking place there, then we'll assist Indiana Excise [Police]," said Sgt. Redman.

It didn't take long for the officers to call. At their first stop, Main Street Pub on State Road 23, they found several people under the age of 21 with fake IDs.

Each one was given a Breathalyzer test, and two were ticketed for drinking, but the citations didn't stop there.

Two tickets were written to minors who had the fake IDs. One woman who had three false forms of identification was also arrested.

Three more were written to minors for simply being in a tavern. In Indiana, that's illegal.

Managing owner Lisa Bushong says IDs are checked at both doors leading into the bar, and at the bar itself.

"I don't really know how it slipped through the cracks," she said. "There were two fake IDs. But we pride ourselves on the fact that we don't allow under-agers into our restaurant bar area."

That's why she says she'll use the experience as a learning tool for her employees.

"You have to be hard on everybody. You have to card everybody through that door," she said.

It's a message police hope is being heard loud and clear.

"Underage drinking is illegal, and we're not going to tolerate it," said Sgt. Redman.

Officers promise this is just the beginning for SUDS. But they're counting on tips from the public to help the program make a real difference.

To make an anonymous tip, call or send a text message to the SUDS tip line at 574-217-5150.